AT&T customer engineer position test

Jasiono

Wow. I applied last night to AT&T and just got a call to take a test at Pearson vue.

Has anyone taken a test for AT&T ?

Roguetadhg

customer engineering? Interesting.

What is that exactly? It sounds like something a politician or a car salesman would be doing

Jasiono

The title is wierd I know. Here is the link to the job

https://att.taleo.net/careersection/10161/jobdetail.ftl?job=1231173

Roguetadhg

That reads like an awesome job to work with the Customer-side of the network setup. ... >.>

the_Grinch

That sounds pretty cool! Good luck and let us know how you do!

networker050184

A quick Google brought me here.

Pearson VUE: AT&T

Good luck!

Forsaken_GA

Jasiono wrote: »

The title is wierd I know. Here is the link to the job

https://att.taleo.net/careersection/10161/jobdetail.ftl?job=1231173

That job description looks like it'd be the equivalent of what we use headend techs and dispatch techs for. Make sure you know what you're getting into.

NightShade1

mmm that position looks like something i use to do...
GC through some other company hire our company to do this kind of job... it was really boring to me... normally they send you a router.... you apply an initial config that they send you, you call the GC and test if the thing was okay... normally there was an issue between the communication between our country ISP link to GC... and there you sit there waiting and waiting and waiting until they fix it and that was about it... you actually did nothing... just go rack the router paste the config and thats it..
And it sounds to me its the same.... it was like an entry level job, you were required to have a CCNA ( i dont know why?) i mean you just paste a stupid config... and wait... or do whatever the one on GC side tells you to do...
Thanks God my company stop that contract... you loose too much time doing nothing, and that was time i needed to complete my projects which were interesting not this boring entry level job...

Im totally agree with forsaken you should be sure in what are you getting into..

Jasiono

I gotta start somewhere. I applied to other companies too. I need to get out of my non technical position into a technical one.

NightShade1

Well if you are looking for an entry level job this is an entry level one...

Legacy User

I had a job just like that it was more of a oncall gig. When I get called the rate was $25/hr for x amount of hours if it passes the time and the noc cant figure out the problem I would ask if they want me to stay later once they confirm its $30/hr at that point. It wasnt to bad at first but had to change my phone plan to unlimited had to be on hold for 3 hrs. Depending how much you get paid it isnt to bad but it can be real damn boring. If the equip is in a closet i'd say bring a book in your laptop bag and read when your waiting betweens calls. It was mostly removing and installing hp procurve switches and waiting for the noc to call back to say its online.

As far as technical positions its not really that technical to be honest. You aren't configuring anything just unplug then plug.

Forsaken_GA

Jasiono wrote: »

I gotta start somewhere. I applied to other companies too. I need to get out of my non technical position into a technical one.

Well that's just it, that job description doesn't look that technical, it looks more manual. Our headend techs are slightly techy, as they're field techs who have to deal with the physical RF plant, but from a configuration standpoint, they never touch the network gear. If something is needed to be done to the hardware physically, they're there to do that, or move cables, or whatever, and they have to call and wait on us to do anything else.

With that being said, we have had some headend and dispatch guys make the change from being in the field to working in the equivalent of our NOC or our engineering departments, so I'm not saying skip it, I'm just staying acquaint yourself with the possibility of being a glorified rack and stack monkey or install tech and make sure you'd be ok doing that as a career stepping stone. Personally, I flat out refused to do that kind of work, but then I'm kind of a dick, and you probably don't want me at a customers site anyway

Jasiono

What makes me wonder is why is the test so technical.

Roguetadhg

To get through HR.

Forsaken_GA

Jasiono wrote: »

What makes me wonder is why is the test so technical.

Well, which test? From the job description you posted, it looks like they want two things - CCNA equivalent knowledge, and the second one, TS-TAB, doesn't look technical at all. The example guide that it links to is mostly just problem solving skills, like navigating traffic, pattern recognition, folded pattern recognition, etc. That looks more intelligence and practical related than technical related.

NightShade1

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

Well, which test? From the job description you posted, it looks like they want two things - CCNA equivalent knowledge, and the second one, TS-TAB, doesn't look technical at all. The example guide that it links to is mostly just problem solving skills, like navigating traffic, pattern recognition, folded pattern recognition, etc. That looks more intelligence and practical related than technical related.

Well i dont know why they would need a ccna for that job... at least for the one we were doing it the requirement was to be a CCNA... why? i dont know as it was just copy and paste the config...and rack the router... why you would need to be a CCNA for that? wth? even if there was a troubleh you had to do what the guy in the phones tells you so you did nothing by your own. This was the most boriest thing i ever had to do working in IT

Forsaken_GA

NightShade1 wrote: »

Well i dont know why they would need a ccna for that job... at least for the one we were doing it the requirement was to be a CCNA... why? i dont know as it was just copy and paste the config...and rack the router... why you would need to be a CCNA for that? wth? even if there was a troubleh you had to do what the guy in the phones tells you so you did nothing by your own. This was the most boniest thing i ever had to do working in IT

Well, keep in mind that the CCNA covers basic network theory, along with basic Cisco configuration. Things like subnetting, types of cabling, etc are somewhat useful to a field tech. Sometimes when there's a connectivity issue, we need to have the field techs run things like local ping tests, local traceroutes, and even fire up Wireshark every once in awhile, in order to isolate where a problem is occurring (this is most common when transport gear is involved). So having your field guys know something about networking is not a bad thing.

Legacy User

I guess they rather someone with a ccna who has a clue then someone who hasn't touched network equipment. As a ccna your doing lesser work but that's their requirement so what can you do.

the_Grinch

This sounds like a good foot in the door. Definitely go in knowing what the job really is, but once you get in then you can move up and around. AT&T is a big company with plenty of positions you could move to. Just know that this might be a position where you have to stay a year or two before you move to another. I know the Verizon Wireless NOC was like that, flat out said that I'd be in the position for two years before I could think about moving.

gadav478

I would say that it doesn't hurt to interview and see what they are talking either way. It sounds like a good gig and an interview would give you a better picture as to what they'll require of you.

Good luck.

HLRS

nice man, I wanna see your resume lol seems its good

Jasiono

Trust me when I say that my resume isn't special at all.

ResumeSAMPLE.doc

Edsky

Hi, I also received the same call and I am trying to narrow the focus on how to prepare. It centers on basic hardware, software, networking, and convergence. I'd love to have a specific target in terms of study, since it is a wide range. These might be basic topics but jobs are hard to find. I am interested in more info.

Devilry

Looks pretty interesting! Let us know how it all turns out

VAHokie56

Cant hurt to pursue it a bit more and get a feel for what it may be, go for it

kowaun

Hey Guys,

I was wondering about this test.......and if anyone has taken it, I have it coming up soon and also wanted to nail down a good direction of study

bbakkour

I have that exam coming up to, any help is appreciated!

SicksOneZer0

kowaun wrote: »

Hey Guys,

I was wondering about this test.......and if anyone has taken it, I have it coming up soon and also wanted to nail down a good direction of study

Well, im sure by now you have taken the test. For anyone who is curious, the exam is 4 parts : Problem Identification, Visual Scanning, Math and PATTERN FOLDING! Its laid out pretty straight forward in ATT's example sheet. I took the test the first time and failed about 3 years ago, I am going for a job there again and I am now scheduled to take it again in a few days.

I bought two books on amazon directly related to these tests (TS-TAB and TQTI) The books are called passbooks, they are expensive and really dont look like they are the absolute answer to passing the test, mostly because I think they are outdated, but they should definitely help.

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The problem identification is somewhat straightforward, you identify patterns based on rules they set in the question, PITA

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Visual Scanning is where they give you a "fictitious" map and you have to identify the fastest route without breaking any laws, on the example they give it looks easy, but on the actual test I was nervous, I kept second guessing myself and I dont think I did too well. The problem with this section is each set of questions gets progressively harder, and it almost seems like there isn't enough time to complete it.

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Math, I suck at math. The test has the basic's addition, subtraction, multiplication, some division, a little bit of fractions, etc. nothing too hard.

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Pattern folding, confusing as hell, I know the concept is simple, you see a pattern and you imagine what shape it would be if it was folded but some of the shape I really didn't understand, plus again I was very nervous and I was second guessing myself.

Before the test, get plenty of sleep and keep calm when you take the test. Pay attention to the directions, because they like to be tricky.

The vague ATT guide is http://att.jobs/docs/test-guides/technical-specialist-telecommunications-ability-battery-%28TS-TAB%29.pdf they make it sound alot easier than it actually is, last time I took the test I was tired, nervous and I underestimated the test...Not happening this time.

The books I bought to help me prepare are on amazon, some company called national learning corp makes these passbooks specifically tailored to jobs you never would think people take tests for. The reviews are --meh right in the middle, some people like them, some people think they suck. Ill find out when I take the test. On amazon you look up "telephone ability battery" and for the other test you lookup "telephone qualification test", again these books seem like they may be a bit outdated, but it should be good brain exercise to get the juices flowin'

I hope that helps someone. Good luck!